The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-11
THE COTTON EXCHANGE.
PRESIDENT FLANNERY'S REVIEW
OF THE YEAR.

Un1beQ SJ&UeS-InS transportation
Question Touched Upon-The Recent
Fires and the Necessity for Prevent
i've Measures-The General Outlook.
The annual meeting of the Savannah
Cotton Exchange was held last night.
President Flannery Is i'll, and Vice PreSi-
dent z. NJ Green presided The reports of
the Superintendent and the various COM
mittees were read and after them Supt.
BRYAN read the Presidents report The
Exchange has 1S7 members and gained il
members during last year. The Superintend-
ents compilation from the National Cotton
Exchange reports shows that the net re-
ceipts at Savannah during last year were
sos 434 bales, an excess of Loss bales over
the previous year. This gives Savannah
l2.4S per cent of the total crop against
1880 per cent. in 1856, and is proof that
the port has fully maintained its position as
the second cotton port in the United States.
The Presidents report touches upon the
various interests represented by the Tx
change, and is an interesting document.
After referring to the committees and
Superintendent reports the question of
transportation was taken up. Touching
upon this matter President Flannery said;
THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.
The determinations in favor Of through
business and therefore against that which
is local and TO which attention has been
called in previous annual reports, still eX-
lists to some extent, Notwithstanding that
renewed efforts have been made during the
wear through committees of the Exchange
TO have it corrected or still further modified.
1t is to be hoped that at some day in the near
future transportation lines, having their
termini here, will devise plans by
which cotton coming over their lines and
consigned locally to this port will be put on
as favorable footing as if it came here on
a through bill of lading consigned to
some other point. 1t would seem as If it
should be TO the interest of the transporta-
ton companies to encourage rather than TO
discourage the consigning OF cotton locally,
as they are promptly relieved OF the ex-
pense and responsibility attending the care
Of such cotton, and by increasing this part
of their business, which cam probably, be
done by reasonable encouragement, they
would, no doubt, gradually diminish in
stead of increasing as of late the quantity
Of cotton left in their charge without com
pensation for the risk and expense they are
put TO in caring for It.
The increased charge for COMPRISING cot
ton Inaugurated on Sept has operated TO
the injury of the local cotton trade The
benefits that may have accrued on account
Of the advance appear TO have been mainly
in favor of parties whose interest it is made
to send their cotton here compressed, and on
a through bill of lading, and who, there
fore, only use the port as a transfer or
way station.
THE COTTON FIRES.
The subject Of cotton fires on shipboard
President Flannery said, has become
one the present season on account of their
frequency and the popularity of their de
velopment, and it becomes matter of great
Importance TO prevent such repetition of
such disasters The Exchange has taken some
action in the matter by adopting a series of
resolutions suggesting some OF the probable
causes and enjoining greater care on and
around vessels and wharves and in all other
places where tho staple is being handled in
the port. The city authorities have been
urged TO enforce existing ordinances, and
the railway and press companies and work
ingmens' associations have been requested
TO cooperate in carrying out existing rules
framed for the prevention OF such fires All
of them have promised to do their part In
the line Of prevention, but more is needed
in order to get at the cause or causes, which
lead to the damage or destruction of so
much valuable property, and to the injury
which must necessarily result to the port if
a repetition of such fires continue.
THE CROPS.
Referring to the general condition of the
crops, the President said that with the ex-
ception of rice the crops in the country
naturally tributary to Savannah promise
fair average outturns; while the yield of cot
ton will fall short of what was expected
from the general prospects in July we may
reasonably look for as large ar outturn as we
had lest year, and the exceptionally
favorable picking season enables farmers to
save it in excellent condition. The August
storms and frcshets did considerable
damage to our rice crop, which it is estima-
ted will not yield over two-thirds to three
fourths of the last season. Corn and other
grain crops are estimated to be about the
usual average.
THE RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
"The work on our river, which was carried
on under the superintendent of Lieut.. Car
ter, United States Engineer Corps, between
Nov. Is, 1886, and July 3, 1897 has resulted
in putting it in better condition than
st the time of any previous annual report.
The least mean high water depth
between the city and the sea is a fraction
over twenty feet-the shoaled point being
at the Lower Flats No further work
can be done until Congress makes another
appropriation. The practice in Congress of
making insufficient yearly appropriations
Tor TINS work has increased It's cost, and ma
terially delayed its completion. The sur
vey recently made by the Engineer Depart
ment, under authority of Congress, shows
that it is practicable to obtain a depth of
twenty eight feet at mean high tide in the
shsllowest part of the channel between the
city and the sea. Plans and estimates for
this work have been submitted TO the War
Department, and will be reported on to
Congress at its coming session. 1t is to be
hoped that our city government and trade
organizations, with the cooperation OF our
immediate Representative in Congress, will
take steps TO have our claims in this matter
properly presented when the time arrives.
THE RAILWAYS.
THE railway lines continue TO keep abreast
of the times by providing facilities for the
transportation of all species of merchan-
disc committed to their charge. Their
properties are kept in good condition and
are reasonably remunerative, which enables
them to meet competition at all points
without the dread of bankruptcy, and it is
10 be hoped that their arrangements in the
future may be such as TO prevent injury to
the trade of our port, or this latter catas-
trophe to themselves. The extensions of
lines from Goodwater to Birmingham, Ala,
from Clayton TO Ozark, Ala, and from
Bakely, Ga, to Columbia, Ala, are being
pushed forward to an early completion.